DRESSING LIKE YOUR TOYS!

I jumped at the chance to talk about costumes for this season’s theme. You can read about my love and angst for the creative process of costume-making. I love costumes. I love creating them. I have a stack of off-white gauze and crushed forest green velvet sitting next to my machine for this season. My fabric lady, cutting, said, “Do these go together?” “No, but Rey and Merida are favorite toys in my house,” I responded. She seemed to understand. Then I told her most everyone at my 8th grade dance wore crushed forest green velvet dresses except mine was forest green taffeta. And you could hear her blink. I am not she was even born when I went to my 8th grade dance. But she cut my fabric generously and straight. So…

Dressing up! Costumes!

You can go a few routes with dressing like your costumes which we will look at today!

BOUNDING OR INSPIRED OUTFITS

Bounding is dressing in similar colors and styles of a toy or character. For example if you love Snow White you could wear a Navy shirt, yellow pants, a red headband and some apple earrings. Your clothes are inspired by Snow White, but you are not in full costume. Bounding is super popular on Pinterest and Disney characters and toys are often the focus.

Here are some subtle outfits I found that could be worn without screaming “costume”. Make a sweater with a thick collar to remind us of young Luke Skywalker. This inspired Jedi look from my co-contributor, Karly is so fun.

Another idea is of a simple black vest and white shirt could also double for a Hans Solo look!

DRESS UP

Then there are days where a full on costume is the right thing to do. My youngest can be spotted laying on the floor reading a book or building Munchkin land in her full on Glinda costume. Or imagine Alice or Bilbo recreating their favorite stories as they build the world around them with favorite toys.

My little one asked for a fox for her birthday one year. I created the fox with a vintage pattern and took an outgrown outfit and cut it and sewed it into her favorite combination at the time, pink shirt and jeans to add to the sweet stuffed fox. Using pink knit and old denim leggings and some quick Velcro I made her new toy match her. Or you can sew an outfit to match your toy like this Miffy doll or a cute matching sweater.

I hadn’t thought of sewing doll clothes to go with my boys’ clothes as part of this season’s theme! What a great idea! My little E has been asking for PJs for his little “buddy” for a while, and I’m planning to sew PJs for my boys for KCW (because that’s what they most need now). Now if that isn’t a perfect match…